THEY HAVE STOOD UP TO COURT CHALLENGES. DURING THE RECENT STRAIGHT PRIDE PARADE AND THE PROTESTS THAT SURROUNDED THEM, BOSTON POLICE SAY THEY WERE ASSAULTED BY PROTESTERS, INCLUDING SOME WEARING MASKS. >> WHEN DID SOCIETY SAY IT WAS OK? DAVID: CITY COUNCILOR TIM MCCARTHY IS PROPOSING AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD BAN WEARING MASKS IN PUBLIC. AND SAYS DOING SO WOULD HELP KEEP POLICE AND THE PUBLIC SAFE. PROBABLY WOULDN’T DO IF A HAD THAT MASK ON. FOR FIVE PEOPLE DEEP IT IS EASY TO THROW A BATTERY AND GET, PUT YOUR HEAD DOWN BEHIND PEOPLE AND DISAPPEAR INTO THE CROWD. DAVID: MEMBERS OF THE BOSTON POLICE PATROLMEN’S ASSOCIATION WHO ATTENDED THE COUNCIL MEETING SAID BANNING MASKS WOULD HELP OFFICERS CATCH TROUBLEMAKERS ON THE SPOT AND ALSO TRACK THEM DOWN LATER USING SURVEILLANCE VIDEO. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE IN A LARGE CROWD OF PEOPLE AND SEE SOMETHING FLY, YOU NEED HELP IDENTIFYING THAT PERSON, MAYBE READ HERE WERE BLUNT HERE. IF YOU HAVE IT -- OR -- MAYBE RED HAIR OR BLONDE HAIR. A MASK MAKES IT DIFFICULT. DAVID: NO COUNCILORS SPOKE DIRECTLY AGAINST THE PROPOSAL. HOWEVER, ONE NOTED THAT PROTESTERS AT THE BOSTON TEA PARTY WORE DISGUISES. AND ANOTHER SAID ANY BAN SHOULD CONTAIN EXEMPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO COVER THEIR FACES FOR RELIGIOUS OR MEDICAL REASONS. >> AS AN ARAB WITH ARAB SISTERS OF, WITHIN MY CULTURAL COMMUNITY THAT ARE MUSLIM, MY FATHER IS MUSLIM, I WORRY ABOUT THE ROLE OF RELIGIOUS ATTIRE. DAVID: THE MASK BAN PROPOSAL WAS SENT TO COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. THIS CITY COUNSELOR ONCE A SEPARATE HEARING ON HOW BOSTON POLICE HANDLED THE PROTEST INCLUDING REMNANTS -- WHEN IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THEM TO USE RIOT

Boston City Councilor Tim McCarthy and Massachusetts Sen. Dean Tran are proposing a ban on masks and bandannas at protests.The proposal comes after the protests that surrounded the Aug. 31 "Straight Pride Parade" in Boston.Boston police said they were assaulted by protesters wearing masks, and nine people face charges of assault and battery on a police officer. McCarthy says stripping protesters of masks would help keep the police and the public safe."My personal opinion is that the mask emboldens people to do things that they probably wouldn't do if they didn't have that mask on," McCarthy said. "Also, when you have four or five people deep, it's easy to throw a D battery at a Boston police officer, put your head down behind other people and disappear into the crowd."During a City Council meeting on Wednesday, McCarthy said several other cities already have similar laws and that those laws have stood up to court challenges.The proposal was sent to committee for further discussion, as no city councilor spoke directly against. However, some councilors said the proposal needs to include exemptions for people who cover their faces for religious or medical reasons.Four police officers were injured and 36 people were arrested Aug. 31 after a series of fracases between law enforcement and protesters demonstrating against a "Straight Pride Parade" that wended its way through downtown Boston. Many of the protesters, some of whom were affiliated with the leftist group Antifa, wore bandannas, masks or other items to shield their faces."It is time, federal, state, and local to make it illegal to cover your faces in public events and demonstrations. A danger to public safety and our police officers," Tran, a Fitchburg Republican, tweeted Sept. 2, along with a cover of Sunday's Boston Herald, which showed a man with a bandanna around his neck being carried away by police officers. "No one or group is above the law."Tran told the State House News Service on Sept. 3 that he has been concerned about violence erupting at protests and demonstrations around the country, and was "frustrated" by what he saw."I'm a big supporter of the freedom to assemble, but the freedom to assemble does not guarantee you the right to disguise yourself and inflict harm on others," Tran said.Tran said footage of violence at rallies and protests around the country, some of which have involved Antifa and affiliated groups, got him thinking about legislation to prohibit covering one's face at a protest."I've seen actions that have been taken by Antifa and I compare those actions to the same actions as groups like the KKK," Tran said, referring to the Ku Klux Klan. "We're in a different era; back then, the KKK did not agree with other races and they used violence to convey their messages. Now we're seeing groups similar to that, and that is the Antifa, now they use the same tactics but against people who don't share the same beliefs and views."Tran said he and his staff have been discussing a potential bill to ban face coverings for several months."We are in the process of devising the correct language to file our bill. We want to make sure we will not infringe upon people's rights to assemble and their rights to express themselves," Tran said. "We want to make sure the public safety is secured and provided."The senator said his bill will "absolutely" have an exemption for Halloween or other events at which people traditionally wear masks or other similar apparel. Tran said he is considering limiting the prohibition in his bill to events that require a municipal permit, as Saturday's parade did.Asked about the worry among some activists that the government could retaliate in some way against people who protest against the government if it is able to capture surveillance images of each protester's face, Tran said that should not be a concern."If you practice peaceful demonstration, you should have nothing to worry about. But if you have an intention to go out there and inflict harm on others, then, of course, you should be worried that the government will take every action to prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law," he said.Some advocacy groups, including the Boston chapter of Democratic Socialists of America and the local anti-fascist group Solidarity Against Hate Boston, have argued that the police initiated the violence and have documented their complaints with video.Boston City Councilor Kim Janey said she wants to hold a hearing on the way police responded to the "Straight Pride" protests, including when it is appropriate for police to use pepper spray and riot gear.WCVB has contacted the American Civil Liberties Union for comment but has not yet heard back.Colin A. Young of the State House News Service contributed to this report.

BOSTON —

Boston City Councilor Tim McCarthy and Massachusetts Sen. Dean Tran are proposing a ban on masks and bandannas at protests.

The proposal comes after the protests that surrounded the Aug. 31 "Straight Pride Parade" in Boston.

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Boston police said they were assaulted by protesters wearing masks, and nine people face charges of assault and battery on a police officer. McCarthy says stripping protesters of masks would help keep the police and the public safe.

"My personal opinion is that the mask emboldens people to do things that they probably wouldn't do if they didn't have that mask on," McCarthy said. "Also, when you have four or five people deep, it's easy to throw a D battery at a Boston police officer, put your head down behind other people and disappear into the crowd."

During a City Council meeting on Wednesday, McCarthy said several other cities already have similar laws and that those laws have stood up to court challenges.

The proposal was sent to committee for further discussion, as no city councilor spoke directly against. However, some councilors said the proposal needs to include exemptions for people who cover their faces for religious or medical reasons.

Four police officers were injured and 36 people were arrested Aug. 31 after a series of fracases between law enforcement and protesters demonstrating against a "Straight Pride Parade" that wended its way through downtown Boston. Many of the protesters, some of whom were affiliated with the leftist group Antifa, wore bandannas, masks or other items to shield their faces.

"It is time, federal, state, and local to make it illegal to cover your faces in public events and demonstrations. A danger to public safety and our police officers," Tran, a Fitchburg Republican, tweeted Sept. 2, along with a cover of Sunday's Boston Herald, which showed a man with a bandanna around his neck being carried away by police officers. "No one or group is above the law."

It is time, federal, state, and local to make it illegal to cover your faces in public events and demonstrations. A danger to public safety and our police officers. No one or group is above the law. pic.twitter.com/bAfiWOJcWq

Tran told the State House News Service on Sept. 3 that he has been concerned about violence erupting at protests and demonstrations around the country, and was "frustrated" by what he saw.

"I'm a big supporter of the freedom to assemble, but the freedom to assemble does not guarantee you the right to disguise yourself and inflict harm on others," Tran said.

Tran said footage of violence at rallies and protests around the country, some of which have involved Antifa and affiliated groups, got him thinking about legislation to prohibit covering one's face at a protest.

"I've seen actions that have been taken by Antifa and I compare those actions to the same actions as groups like the KKK," Tran said, referring to the Ku Klux Klan. "We're in a different era; back then, the KKK did not agree with other races and they used violence to convey their messages. Now we're seeing groups similar to that, and that is the Antifa, now they use the same tactics but against people who don't share the same beliefs and views."

Tran said he and his staff have been discussing a potential bill to ban face coverings for several months.

"We are in the process of devising the correct language to file our bill. We want to make sure we will not infringe upon people's rights to assemble and their rights to express themselves," Tran said. "We want to make sure the public safety is secured and provided."

The senator said his bill will "absolutely" have an exemption for Halloween or other events at which people traditionally wear masks or other similar apparel. Tran said he is considering limiting the prohibition in his bill to events that require a municipal permit, as Saturday's parade did.

Asked about the worry among some activists that the government could retaliate in some way against people who protest against the government if it is able to capture surveillance images of each protester's face, Tran said that should not be a concern.

"If you practice peaceful demonstration, you should have nothing to worry about. But if you have an intention to go out there and inflict harm on others, then, of course, you should be worried that the government will take every action to prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law," he said.

Some advocacy groups, including the Boston chapter of Democratic Socialists of America and the local anti-fascist group Solidarity Against Hate Boston, have argued that the police initiated the violence and have documented their complaints with video.

Boston City Councilor Kim Janey said she wants to hold a hearing on the way police responded to the "Straight Pride" protests, including when it is appropriate for police to use pepper spray and riot gear.

WCVB has contacted the American Civil Liberties Union for comment but has not yet heard back.

Colin A. Young of the State House News Service contributed to this report.